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YCCCART 2012/Y 6 North Somerset HER 2012 / 349

Gradiometry & Resistivity Surveys at Iwood Manor

YATTON, CONGRESBURY, CLAVERHAM AND CLEEVE ARCHAEOLOGICAL

RESEARCH TEAM (YCCCART)

General Editor: Vince Russett

Brian & David are holding the remote wire and not each other‟s hands

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Page

Contents

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Abstract Acknowledgements Introduction

4 5

Site location Land use and geology Historical & archaeological context

9 Survey objectives Methodology

10 Results

21 Recommendations References

22 Appendix – Site Record

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Abstract YCCCART is investigating the extent of the Congresbury Romano British pottery kilns and settlement at Iwood.

Gradiometry and resistivity surveys at Iwood Manor have revealed a number of features including possible walls and structures. Hints of a possible Roman road suggested to run through the grounds of the manor were seen. Acknowledgements A Heritage Lottery Grant enabled the purchase, by YCCCART, of a Bartington 601 Gradiometer and Geoscan RM15 Resistivity Meter without which this survey could not have been undertaken. This survey would also not have been carried out without the willing permission of the landowners, Mr & Mrs Lloyd. The authors are grateful for the hard work by the members of YCCCART in performing the survey and Vince Russett for editing. Introduction Yatton, Congresbury, Claverham and Cleeve Archaeological Research Team (YCCCART) is one of a number of Community Archaeology teams across North Somerset, supported by the North Somerset Council Development Management Team. The objective of the Community Archaeology in North Somerset (CANS) teams is to carry out archaeological fieldwork, for the purpose of recording, and better understanding and management of, the heritage of North Somerset.

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Site Location

Fig 1: Site location Iwood Manor The site is in the hamlet of Iwood, in the parish of Congresbury in North Somerset, some 12 miles south of Bristol. (See site report in appendix for GPS readings) The areas surveyed are privately owned, and there are no public rights of way across the manor. Land use and geology The local geology is Mercia Mudstone Group - Mudstone and Halite-Stone. The sites are laid to lawn.

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Historical & archaeological context The longevity of settlement at Iwood has been suggested by Richard Broomhead (Broomhead, in prep) and Gill Bedingfield (Bedingfield 1996) as indicated by Romano British pottery and coins found close to Iwood Manor (See YCCCART report Y16 /2010 under Congresbury reports). The late Keith Gardner, whilst viewing Google Earth, identified a potential Roman road running from the woods to the north of Iwood Manor through the present manor grounds and down what is now Iwood Lane, before veering off to the right. There are suggestions of this road in the field south of the manor. The line is then picked up by Iwood Lane south of the river as far as Willing's cross, where it joins the Churchill Road. After a kink at this point, it then forms the straight boundary between Congresbury and Churchill parishes for some miles. The current road going south past the manor takes has a sharp right bend then goes sharp left over Iwood Bridge. Henry Collins, a local farmer now in his 90s, remembers a ford where the bridge now stands which was replaced by the bridge in the 1920s. Was there an earlier ford or bridge across the Yeo joining the possible Roman road? Medieval In 1996 local historian Gill Bedingfield compiled a history of Iwood (Bedingfield GM, 1996), which is included on this web site. See YCCCART report Y32/2010 in 3 parts under the section Congresbury Reports. This includes details of the history of the mill within the grounds of Iwood Manor. In her thesis Gill states:”Iwood Manor House is the most likely site for the medieval manorial messuage. Iwood‟s 14th century accounts show that there was a manor house of sorts, a barn, a substantial cattle shed, a wagon house and a dovecote.”

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Fig 2 : 1839 Map. Courtesy of Bristol Record Office BRO 37959/9.

17th and 19th Century

“By 1664 a substantial house may also have stood on the site of the present Iwood Manor. Katherine Wallis was assessed for 20s in the Hearth Tax of 1664 and William Wallis appears as the chief tenant of the Farm and two cottages in a rental of 1647 (SRO. DD/X/FRC 10). There is no indication on the present site of Iwood Manor of any early occupation, although in view of the extensive, pre-nineteenth century landscaping of the area surrounding the house, this is probably not surprising.” (Broomhead in prep) The 1840 Tithe apportionment, accompanying the 1839 Tithe map shown in Fig 2 above, records the following:- The current manor is called Iwood Farm (In error?) Landowner: Trustees of William Henry and Mary Merle. Occupier: Charles Parsons

1607. Wood Yard. (Pasture) 1611. Fish pond

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1612. Orchard 1614. Orchard 1615. Garden 1616. Dwelling House & Outbuildings (Curiously 1616 is not shown on the map but is most likely the area coloured blue in Fig 2)

1618. Barton & outbuildings 1619. Lawn

Occupier of the mill is John Thomas 1608 –Mill

20th century

The house and gardens have been radically altered since the photographs below were taken

Aerial view of Iwood Manor from the north in the 1960s. Courtesy of Mrs J Lloyd & family.

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South elevation circa 1964 showing buildings now demolished. Courtesy of Mrs J Lloyd & family.

West elevation, prior to 1964. Courtesy of Mrs J Lloyd & family.

The view above shows the western side of the house. All the outbuildings to the right as well as the dairy between the chicken shed and tree have been demolished.

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Survey objectives The survey had the following objectives. 1) To continue to investigate the extent of the Congresbury Romano British pottery

kilns and settlement at Iwood. 2) To use the survey to further train YCCCART members and members of Community

Archaeology in North Somerset (CANS) in the use of the gradiometer and resistivity equipment..

Methodology

The surveys were undertaken during the period April and May 2012 by teams from YCCCART using a Geoscan RM15 resistivity meter and Bartington 601 gradiometer, with settings as per the site record in the Appendix . The completed survey was downloaded to ArcheoSurveyor and Snuffler programmes ArcheoSurveyor composites were adjusted using the following filters 1) Colour - Red Blue Green 2 2) Band weight equaliser 3) Grad shade 4) Despiked 5) Destriped (Gradiometer only) 6) Clip SD2 In addition, as indicated below, for certain results the Edge March and High Level filters were utilised. The report was written in Microsoft Word 2007. Photographs were taken by members of YCCCART, and remain the copyright of YCCCART.

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Results

Fig 3: Location of results

The results which follow are split into four sites as shown in Fig 3 above.

Site 1 Site 3 Site 2

Site 4

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Site 1. Resistivity survey

Fig 4: ArcheoSurveyor shade view . High readings are black. A High pass Gaussian filter and Black Green White filter have been used in the lower image.

The results in Fig 4 above show two parallel lines which follow the line of the suggested Roman road if projected (more or less) from that of Iwood Lane to the north.

A circular feature some 10 metres in diameter is also shown. It is tempting to wonder if this is connected in any way to the dovecote mentioned in the 14th century accounts Another anomaly on the left of the results shown on Fig 4 is difficult to interpret.

N

Parallel lines

Circular feature

Edge of path

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Site 2. Resistivity survey

Fig 5: ArcheoSurveyor shade view . High readings are black. A high level filter and Black Green White filter has been used in the lower image.

A strong linear feature running north to south in Fig 5 above could be the remains of a wall (or possibly a path).

N

Wall?

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Site 3. Resistivity survey

Fig 6: ArcheoSurveyor shade view . High readings are black. A high level filter and Black Green White filter has been used in the lower image.

A feature running horizontally across the bottom of Fig 6 above could possibly relate to building rubble.

N

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Site 4 Gradiometry Survey

Fig 7: Grid layout and ArcheoSurveyor file names (below)

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Fig 8: Shade view (ArcheoSurveyor colour image). High readings are red.

The high level anomaly shown in Fig 8 above is most unexpected. Remains from the mill, destroyed by fire in 1892, may have been dumped in this area causing the high magnetic response.

Area of known out

buildings

High level

anomaly

Edge of drive

N

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Fig 9: Axonometric view (ArcheoSurveyor colour image). High readings are red.

The high level anomaly can clearly be seen in the 3d image, Fig 9 above.

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Site 4 Resistivity Survey

Fig 10: Grid layout and ArcheoSurveyor file names (below)

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Fig 11: ArcheoSurveyor shade view. High readings are black.

Service lines probably cause some features illustrated in Fig 11 above. The likely remains of the outbuildings shown in the photographs on page 8 are shown towards the centre top. Also evident, in the lower section of Fig 11, is the possible remains of a small structure. This may be connected in some way with the fish pond recorded on the Tithe Map, still in existence in 1946, but gone by 1991 (air photographs in North Somerset HER).

N

Remains on

outbuildings ?

Small structure

Line leading to septic

tank?

Service pipe

lines?

Demolished

outbuildings?

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Fig 12: ArcheoSurveyor shade view with High Level filter and Edge Match. High readings are black.

The additional filters used to produce the result in Fig 12 above shows the small structure in greater detail.

Fig 13: 3d image produced using Surfer software (Exploration colour filter) The Surfer image above clearly shows a structure in the area of the demolished

outbuildings.

N

N

Small structure

Structure

/outbuilding?

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Fig 14: Resistivity results sites 1 to 4 Interpretation of results is difficult not least because of the fragmentary nature of the site and small area surveyed. The area of the 'small structure' in Fig 14 was within the farms vegetable garden in 1946 air photographs. The almost north-south high resistance feature is more or less along the projected line of the proposed Roman road, although why such a structure should respond slightly differently in two separate areas is unclear.

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Recommendations The landowners should be asked to notify YCCCART of any building works at Iwood Manor which could throw further light on the results. References

Bedingfield, G. 1996 Broomhead, R.A. (in prep)

Iwood, How long has it existed as a discrete settlement unit and how did this affect its economy, MA Dissertation. Bristol University 1996). Congresbury, the History of a Landscape Unpublished manuscript in the YCCCART archive

Congresbury Tithe Map BRO 37959/9 (Bristol Record Office)

Authors: YCCCART Date: July 2012

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Appendix Setting out details

YCCCART Site Survey Project – Iwood Manor

Survey date 19 April to 31 May 2012

Report date 31 May 2012

Type /Instrument RM15

Gain x1, Current 1mA Frequency 137Hz Probes „Config 1‟ (2 probes)

Grid size: 20m x20m Pattern : Zig Zag Sample interval 1m Traverse Interval 1m. Mode Zig-Zag

Weather 19 April: Overcast & damp 10 May: Overcast and very wet under foot 17 May: Overcast but ground dry 24 May: Overcast, dew on lawn 31 May: Overcast but dry

OS Ref or Lat-Longitude See below

Site name Iwood Manor

Landowner Mr & Mrs Lloyd

HER ref

Site type ?

Description

Period

Geology See report

Land use Lawn except site 2 = orchard

Survey team 19 April: David Long, Chris Short, Brian Wills & John Wilcox. 10 May: Pete English, Pete Wright, John Wilcox, Mike Fox, Susan Dugas, David Long, John Haynes, Ian Morton & Ferdi 17 May: Pete Wright, John Wilcox, Mike Fox, Susan Dugas, David Long, John Haynes, Chris Short 24 May: Janet Dickson, Philippa Cormack, David Long. John Wilcox & Chris Short 31May: David Long, Pete Wright, John Wilcox & Chris Short

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Survey area Notes

Readings

Size Walk direction

19 April 10 May 10 May 17 May 24 May 31 May

Site 1. Grid 1 Site 2. Grid 1 Site 3. Grid 1 Site 4. Grids 1to3 Site 4. Grids 1 to 3. Grid 3 truncated at north by wall. Used end line and image line. Site 4. Grids 1 to 3. Grid 3 bisected by drive. Dummy logs utilised plus end of line & image line.

20m x 20m 20m x 20m 20m x 20m 20m x 20m

20m x 20m

20m x 20m

N E E N

N

N

Summary

Downloaded as: ArcheoSurveyor: Iwood Manor1 grid 1, Iwood Manor 2 grids 1 & 2, Iwood Manor 3 17 May grids 1-3, 24 May grids 1 to 3, 31May grids 1 - 3. Snuffler :

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Setting out details

Resistivity

Site 1

A

Yellow cross at 30m mark

Drive

A (start point) is 2.55m from lamp post & 12.6m

to corner of building.

B is 17.45m from lamp post & 14.55 m from

corner of building

Path

Grid 1

20m square

Building

B

N &

direction of

survey

Site 1

Site 2

Site 3

Site 4

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Site 2

Stream Bridge

Site 3

Grid 1, 10th

May

7.66m 7.77m N

6.63m to fence

Compost

2.14 m to

compost

Start

Grid 2, 10th

May

House

Double door

5,39m

6.35m 8.60m 5,35m

Start

N

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Not to scale

Site 4

All grids –walked north & start bottom left

Not to scale

17 May

Grid 2

17 May

Grid 3

17 May

Grid 1

Point C on

Gradiometry

survey &

12.8m from

tree to north

House &

N

24 May

Grid 1

24 May

Grid 2

24 May

Grid 3

Line of wall

31 May

Grid 2

31 May

Grid 1

31 May

Grid 3

Septic tank?

13.4m to

tree by

bench

7.1m to tree

by river

8.2m to

large tree

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Gradiometry

YCCCART Site Survey

Project – Iwood Manor

Survey date 12th -19April 2012

Report date 19th April 2012

Type /Instrument Grad 601

Pace :1.5m/s

Lines/m : 1

Range:100nT

Volume: High

Sensors:2

Grid size: 30m x30m

Pattern : Zig Zag

Samples/m:4

Audio: On

Threshold:1nT

Reject:50 Hz

Location Iwood Manor

See annex A

Ref

Site name Iwood Manor

Landowner

Tenant none

HER ref TBC

Site type Open land

Description Lawn

Period Unknown

Geology

Land use 12 April 2012 Team Peter Wright, Ferdi joined later by Peter English & Chris Short.

weather Sunny 19 April 2012 Team Pete Wright, Pete English, Janet Dickson, Judy Sacks & Philippa

Cormack, Susan Dugas. weather 19 April: Overcast, light rain

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Survey area notes readings

size walk direction max min mean

Grid ref #

19/04/12

1 30x30m S +100 -100 -5.1

2 30x30m S +100 -100 -8.3

3 30x30m S +100 -100 -8.7

4 30x30m

Mirror & return

S +100 -100 -3.2

5 30x30m

Mirror & return

S +100 -100 -18.6

6 30x30m

Mirror & return

S +100 -100 -16.5

7 30x30m

Mirror & return

N +100 -100 -9.9

8 30x30m

Mirror & return

N +100 -100 -3.6

9 30x30m

Mirror & return

N +20.4 -41.6 -6.6

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Layout 12 April 2012

House

Wall

Drive

Lake

H is 0.66m to

wall (north) &

9.88 to nearest

tree on bank

H = 8.74m to

corner of wall

A

5m to

electricity box

6.7m to base

of tree largest

of twin

B CA

D

E FA

GA

HA

25m from F.

E lies in the

drive cin

Quiet spot

D =3.95m from tree (south)

& 9.46 m from yellow spot

on bridge

Bridge

River

F = 5.2m from tree

to its south & 2m

from tree to north

`

Quiet spot in orchard

GPS

Quiet spot 345454.78 163068.53

A 345515.15 163017.2

B 345487.06 163015.02

C 345457.55 163013.22

D 345427.59 16301?.27

F 345456.85 163043.51

G 345484.8 163045.66

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3.2 m to tree

with yellow

marker

2.35 m to

tree with

yellow

marker

`

Grid Set up on 19th

April 2012

Grids 1 to 3 relate to the layout on 12th

April 2012

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4

5

6

1 2 3

9 8 7

River

Lake

Tree

N

House